Worm.
1. (Ordnance.) An implement for withdrawing the cartridge from a cannon, when it is not desired to fire the charge. It consists of two branches of iron or steel twisted in reverse directions, and attached to a staff. They are made of two sizes, one for field-guns and the other for siege and garrison guns.
2. (Fire-arms.) A spiral wire on the end of the ramrod, for withdrawing a charge. A wad-hook. 3. The thread on the shaft or core of a screw.
4. (Still.) A spiral pipe in a condenser; a continuation of the neck or beak. 5. The spiral of a cork-screw. 6. A sharp-pointed spiral tool, used for boring soft rock; that which is too hard to be pierced by the auger, but not hard enough to require the jumper.
Working-beam of Cornish pumping-engine. |
Worm-gear. |